PAOGA - Privacy & Trust in the Digital Age

June 20, 2011

Kelly Fiveash reports in The Register that "Facebook and other social networks [Google] could be used by British citizens to sign into public services online."

These two US companies have openly declared their ambition to 'own' all the data and personal information that passes through them - and, unless I am mistaken, that means that it will be subject to the US Patriot Act, potentially accessible to US government employees, rather than being subject to the UK Data Protection Act and European Privacy Directive.

Regardles of press stories and lobbying I failed to convince David Blunket & Co of the cost and compliance benefits of Citizen input whilst they poured money into the ill-concieved National Identity Card and Register and the badly managed NHS Computerisation.

And then came the Financial Market meltdown followed by the Government Expenses scandal and, suddenly, "Trust me" was on everyone's lips.

BUT, Francis Maude, at the Cabinet Office, seems to think that the answer is to give control of UK citizens personal information to the USA! Does the Cabinet Office think that this will resolve the Information Commissioner, Christopher Graham's findings in January 2011 that"80% of people are concerned about their personal details online"?

Mr Maude - we have the skills, the technology, the infrastructure, the passion right here in the UK.I strongly advise you to consider the interests of the British Citizen under British Law to protect and control our information. PAOGA isn't the only UK company who has been banging on your door with cost effective solutions to this growing problem.